How to Uninstall Updates on Windows 11

With the launch of Windows 7, Microsoft has started releasing Windows OS updates to add new features and improve the security of the system. If you were using Windows 10, you knew that Microsoft released tons of updates. Now the way Microsoft release updates has improved in the last few years after Windows 10.

Now you can customize Windows update settings including when to check for updates and keep installing updates in the background. But some updates are faulty and you can face errors when you install them. So in that case, you have to uninstall updates on Windows 11. Here is a step-by-step guide for it.

Table of Contents

How to View Updates on Windows 11

You have to find the installed update location before you remove them. Note that every Windows update has a unique number assigned to it starting with the KB number. Here is how to find installed Windows updates.

Method 1: Using Windows 11 Settings

Step 1: Press Windows + I button on your keyboard to access Windows updates.

Step 2: Then click on Windows Update in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Click on the Update history button. Now you can see all installed Windows updates here.

Step 4: Copy the serial number of that update that you want to remove and then delete it.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

Step 1: Open the start menu with the Windows button on your keyboard and then search for cmd.

Step 2: In the right sidebar, find and click on run as administrator option.

Step 3: Click on yes if asked.

Step 4: Now type the following command and then press enter to find all installed Windows updates.

wmic qfe list brief /format:table

You will now get all the recent Windows updates.

How to Uninstall Windows updates

If you want to remove any system update then you can use Windows 11 settings. If you can’t access your system then you can use Windows RE or the CMD method.

Method 1: Use Windows 11 Settings

Step 1: Open Windows 11 settings with Windows + I button on your keyboard.

Step 2: Find and click on Windows Update in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Now in Windows update, find and click on update history.

Step 4: Click on uninstall the update. It will open the control panel. You can see all installed Windows updates here.

Step 5: Select the update that you want to remove and then right-click on it.

Step 6: Choose uninstall to remove that particular Windows update.

Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the update and then restart your PC.

Method 2: Uninstall Windows 11 Updates with Command Prompt

As we already mentioned above, you can also use Command Prompt tool to remove Windows updates. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Windows start menu with the Windows button on your keyboard and then search for cmd.

Step 2: From the results, click on the Run as administrator option.

Step 3: If asked, click on yes on the UAC box.

Step 4: Now in the command prompt, type the following command and then press enter.

wmic qfe list brief /format:table

Step 5: Now, each update has its unique ID number associated with it. So note down the ID number of that Windows update and then type the following command with the ID > press enter.

wusa /uninstall /kb:HotFixID

(Replace kb:HotFixID with the Windows update ID like 5004342. Do not include KB as it is already in the command.)

Step 6: Click ‘Yes’ on the Windows Update Standalone Installer to confirm the uninstallation process.

Restart your computer once the process is finished.

Method 3. Uninstall Updates via Windows RE (Recovery)

If you are unable to boot your Windows or unable to access the control panel then you can use the Windows RE recovery tool. This Windows RE (Recovery Environment) tool will allow you to remove Windows updates without booting into the OS.

Many users have reported errors with Window’s ability to boot after installing an update, in which case, the above methods wouldn’t be applicable. Here, you can uninstall Windows updates from the Windows RE (Recovery Environment).

Step 1: Start your PC and then suddenly press the power button on your PC. Repeat the same process 2-3 times till you see Automatic Repair mode.

Step 2: Automatic repair will diagnose your PC for all possible errors.